Automatic blending-machine.



No. 679,096.. Patented July 23, I90l.

J. S. ULMEB.

AUTOMATIC BLENDING MACHiNE.

(Application filed Sept. 7, 1900.)

(No Ibdel.)

X m. m V & H F m A F L I II a S h m. A I m m m N ||||1 ||1||| |1 1|] m h m. SQ! (l n X/ .Q Q .Q k\ 3 5 Av Q Patented July 23, l90l.

J. S. 'ULMER. AUTOHATI C 'BL'END ING MACHINE. (Application flled Sept. 7, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOSEPH S. ULLWIER, OF WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC BLENDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,093, dated July 23, 1901 Application filed September '7, 1900. Serial No. 29303. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH S. ULMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Williamsport,in the cou nty of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Automatic Blending-Machine,of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved blending-machine for automatically blending or commingling difierent qualities or kinds of grain, seeds, coffee, spices, sugar, or any granular substance or product in any desired proportion.

My invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a blending-machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of one of the bearings of the blending-wheel.

The blending-wheel 1 is revoluble by the weight of the material on which it operates and comprises a central longitudinal core 2, the circular heads 3, and the tangentiallydisposed paddles or plates 4, which form peripheral buckets 5 around the wheel. Boltrods 6 connect the vheads 3 and secure the same on the ends of the core 2. A tie-rod 7 runs longitudinally through the center of the core, projects beyond the heads 3, is provided with clamping-nuts 8, and in the ends of the said tie bolt or rod are openings which receive bearing-studs 9, formed on the inner ends of screws 10, which are secured in circular metallic plates 11, that are screwed on the ends of the case 12; in which the blending-wheel is inclosed. The case 12 is cylindrical in form, and the blending-wheel rotates therein. A discharge-chute 14 leads through the bottom of the case 12 from below the blending- Wheel. On the upper side of the case 12 are a series of receivers or hoppers 15, of which there may be any desired number of any desired capacity, and each of the said receivers has a plurality of discharge-openings16,which vary in size and are adapted to discharge the contents of the receivers by gravity into the buckets of the revoluble blending-wheel on one side thereof, 'so'that the said blendingwheel will rotate by the weight of the material discharged thereon, the material as it leaves self-regulating, the speed being controlled by v the freedom with which the material leaves the machine.

In operation my improved blending-machine discharges directly into a packing-machine of suitable construction, the latter being fed by the former, and the speed and capacity of my improved blending-machine are controlled automatically by that of the packing-machine, since anyexcess of the capacity of the blending-machine over that-of the packing-machine would cause the material to accumulate in the lower portion of the casing of the blending-machine and retard the speed of the blending-wheel. In other words, the speed of the latter and the quantity of material blended thereby are automatically controlled by the quantity of the blended material discharged from the blending-machine.

In each opening 16 is a cut-ofi' plate 17, by means of which any desired number of the openings leading from each receiver may be opened to any desired extent, and hence the quantity of material discharged from each of the receivers onto the blending-wheel can be regulated so that the diiferent kinds of grain, seeds, coffee, spices, sugar, or any granular substance or product may be blended together in the proportions desired.

My improved blending-machine may be used solely for the purpose of blending different kinds or qualities of material or may be used in connection with a suitable registering mechanism for weighing or measuring the material as it passes through the blending-machine.

My improved blending-machine will be found exceedingly serviceable in fl0uringmills and in various other manufactories and in stores, Warehouses, and other places for blending together in the desired proportions grain, seeds,coffee,spices, sugar,or any granular substance or product. I

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In an automatic blendingmachine, a cylindrical casing having a discharge-chute in its lower side and a plurality of receivers of unequal capacities in its upper side, each of said receivers having a plurality of discharge-openings of varying capacities in its lower side and cut-oifs for said openings, in combination with a blending-Wheel in said cylindrical casing revoluble by the weight of the material passing through the machine and said blending-wheel having tangentiallydisposed paddles or plates forming peripheral buckets therein, the speed and capacity of the blending-machine being automatically controlled by the discharge of the blended mate- 20 rials therefrom, substantially as described.

2. A blending-wheel comprising circular heads, a central longitudinal core between them, tangentially-disposed plates connecting said heads, said plates and said core forming peripheral buckets, and a tie-rod, extending through the center of the core, through and projecting beyond the heads, and clamping-nuts on the ends thereof, in combination with a casing having plates secured on the ends thereof, andibearing-studs screwed in said plates and having their inner ends stepped in the ends of said tie-rod, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as m y own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH S. ULMER.

Witnesses:

O. L. NICHOLS, J. E. BURROWS. 

